Swagging tape for drapery construction



Sept. 26, 1961 R. M. vAN DoREN SWAGGING TAPE FOR DRAPERY CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 24, 1959 N .E RA/ TO mD n M NN. 6 A V 1 Mm H @y mw, L l Q 52m. mo M/ 115 a ,O lo ,.2 M /w `Patented Sept. 26, 1961 3 001,579 SWAGGIN G TAPE FOR DRAPERY CONSTRUCTION Ruth'M. Van Doreu, 440 S. Kenilworth, Elmhurst, lll. Filed Feb. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 795,127 1 Claim. (Cl. i60-344) This invention relates to lan improved swagging tape and to a curtain, drapery, valance, or the like having the improved swagging tape `incorporated therein.

It is often desirable to gather material into folds for decorative and aesthetic effects, such for example as when preparing Valances, curtains, draperies and similar installations. In order to obtain the best effect, the folds formed in the material must be properly positioned with respect to the edges of the material, must be of a uniform or predetermined width and fullness, and must retain the predetermined shape after substantial use. This is accomplished in general by providing in or fastening to the material to be gathered eyelets, loops or the like which lare thereafter threaded by a draw tape which when pulled r drawn moves the eyelets or loops toward each otherV in a uniform manner whereby to fold or gather the material between the eyelets and the loops. Although many of the prior structures for forming such gathers or folds of material have been satisfactory in the sense that they present even folds that are pleasing in form and position, they are deficient in other respects. For example, the tapes used heretofore have been bulky whereby the)l kf either must be removed when cleaning the material to be folded, or they seriously interfere with the cleaning and ironing of the material. The prior devices also often are difficult to mount upon the material and can be applied thereto only by skilled persons using specialized and expensive equipment.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide `an improved swagging tape which can easily and readily be applied to the material to be gathered, the tape being appliedthereto by a simple sewing or stitching operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an irnproved swagging tape of the type set forth in which the draw tape can be readily threaded therethrough whereby more easily and more quickly to install the draw tape therein.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a swagging tape of the type set forth which can be readily made and which is less expensive to manufacture and to use.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a swagging tape of the type set forth in which the loops to receive the draw tape are spaced `apart at regular intervals on both surfaces of the tape andare evenly spaced apart, for example one inch, whereby gathers of one inch or multiples thereof can be readily made using the swagging tape of the present invention.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a swagging tape which is substantially flat and lin which the loops lie substantially within the contines of the tape and further in which loops are provided on both surfaces of the tape without substantially increasing the thickness thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a drapery member having aixed thereto the improved swagging tape of the present invention, the drapery member opening out at for laundering, whereby to facilitate the laundering thereof, and the swagging tape being constructed so that the draw tape can be quickly threaded therein whereby to permit positioning of the swagging tape in the drapery easily and quickly.

These Iand other objects yand Iadvantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following dscriptcn when taken ,in ,CQJ'UQCtiQn with the panying drawing. In the drawing wherein like reference numerals have been utilized to designate like parts' throughout:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the rear or reverse side of drapery member or valance having incorporated therein the Aimprovedswagging tape of the present invention;

FIG. 2. is an elevational view of the window having the valance member of FIG. l mounted thereon vand illustrating the uniformly gathered folds which are produced by the swagging tape of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a section of the swagging tape of the present invention and showing a draw tape in position Within the loops thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a section of the swagging tape of FIG. 3 and illustrating the weave of the swagging ta pIIG. 5 Iis a View in vertical section through the tape of FIG. 4 and illustrating the manner of forming the loops on one side of the swagging tape; and

FIG. 6 is a view in vertical section similar to FIG. 5 tand illustrating the manner of forming the loops on the other Vside of the swagging tape.

The improved swagging tape of the present invention has been illustrated in the drawings as `applied to a drapery or valance member 10 but it is to be understood as will be more fully pointed out hereafter that the swagging tape can be utilized with other folding cloth members. The valance member 10 has been shown in FIG. l as being generally trapezoidal in shape and having upper and lower substantially parallel edges 12 and 14 and downwardly converging side edges 16. One section of the improved swagging tape 20 is provided parallel to one of the side edges 16 and secured to the valance member 10 on the reverse side thereof and a similar section of the swagging tape 20 is applied adjacent to the other side edge 16 of the valance member 10 and substantially parallel to the opposite side edge 16. There is associated with each of the swagging tapes 20 a draw tape 22 which passes through loops 24 on the exposed surface of the swagging tape 20 whereby the draw tapes 22 can be pulled together to provide evenly gathered folds of material as is illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing. The valance member 10 can be supported on the' frame of a window 25 by a pair of arms 28 which may be in the form of screw eyelets and which support the valance 10 at points adjacent to the sWagging tapes 20 whereby to produce the evenly folded form illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 3 to 6 of the drawings, the details of construction of the swagging tape 20 and the relationship thereof to the material of valance member 10 will be described. The tape 20 is provided with loops on each side thereof, the loops 24 being disposed on the exposed side, as viewed in FIG. 3, and the loops 30 being provided on the reverse side thereof, the loops 30 being illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 3. Both sets of loops 24 and 30 are disposed transversely of the tape 20 and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tape 20 and are generally centered transversely of the tape 20 and terminate inwardly from the side edges thereof. This provides a continuous uninterrupted surface for the tape 20 which can receive stitching such as at 32 to secure the tape 20 to the fabric material 10. The loops 24 are further spaced at regular intervals along the length of the tape 20 and may be spaced apart preferably one inch. This permits the use of the loops 24 to form gathered -folds of one particular size by threading the draw tape third or every fourth loop 24..

3 The loops 30 on the other side of the tape 20 are also spaced apart at regular intervals and are staggered with respect to the loops 24 whereby to minimize the overall thickness of the tape 20. The loops 30 can be utilized in the same manner as the loops 24 to provide in cooperation with the draw tape 22 any desired size or fold of the material 1Y0 -by threading the draw tape 22 through selected ones of the loops 30 andskipping others of the loops 30. Y Y

One of the important advantages of the swagging tape 20 is the fact that it is substantially perfectly flat whereby there are no lumps or portions of increased thickness thereof. This results lfrom the particular construction of the tape 20 as can be best seen by reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 of the drawings. The tape 20 is woven utilizing thek usual longitudinal or warp threads and transverse or woof threads. The Warp threads have been designated by the numerals 101 through 124, twenty-four warp threads being shown across the width of the tape 2,0. The Woof threads have been designated generally by the numeral 200 and the courses thereof across the width of the tape 20 have been designated bythe numerals 201, 202, 203, etc.

In forming the main body of the tape 20, the woof thread 200 is passed over land Vunder alternate warp threads in the usual weaving manner to provide a firm body for the tape 20. The weaving pattern is altered, however, when it is desired to provide one of the loops 24 or 30. The loops 24 vand 30 actually consist of sections of a course of the woof thread 200, the woof thread course 202 being shown -as formed into one of the loops 24 and the Woof thread course 204 being shown formed into one of the loops 30. in order to provide the loop 24, for example, the Woof course 202 is placed upon the top of each of the warp threads 106 through 120 so as to bridge all of them, whereby to provide a substantial length of the woof course 202 that is free of the warp threads which can be used as ia loop 24 to permit the passage of the draw tape 22 between the loop 24 and the remaining portions of the fabric forming the tape 20. Similarly, the Woof course 204 is -laid beneath each of the warp threads 105 through 119 so as to bridge all of them whereby to provide asection of Woof thread that is entirely free of the warp threads which serves as one of the loops 30, the loop 30 comprising five-eighths of the width of the tape 20 as does each of the loops 24. It will thus be understood that the body of the tape 20 has longitudi nally extending opposite edge portions 20a, indicated by the brackets in FIGS. and 6, wherein all of the woof -and warp threads are interwoven in the usual manner. There are a multiplicity of warp threads intermediate these opposite edge portions ofthe tape body, and each of the Woof threads that forms a loop 24 or 30 does so by freely bridging that multiplicity of warp threads on one side only Vof the tape body between said opposite edge portions a.

In one preferred form of the invention the courses ofV the woof thread 204) yare arranged so that there are twentyfour to the inch so that woof course 202 provides a Y loop 24, then Woof courses 226,250, 274, etc. would provide loops 24. Similarly, if the Woof course 204 provides a loop 30, then woof course 228, 252, 276, etc. would be woven similarly to provide loops spaced apart at one inch intervals. v

From the above construction and referring also to FIGS. 5 `and 6, it will be seen that the finished tape 20 when woven as described above will be substantially flat since the loops 24 and 30 thereof are only parts of the Woof thread 200 and therefore the loops when not in use will lie substantially within the surface of the ltape 20. This is of particular value when cleaning and ironing materials to which the tape 20 is attached. There are no bulky or thickened sections of the tape and there is no tendency for implements such as irons and the like to become entangled with the loops 24 or 30. Furthermore,

by providing loops on both sides of the tape 20, either side may be used as desired without particular attention on the part of the person applying the tape to a fabric whereby Ithe tape 20 may be utilized by unskilled workers without any penalty for error in applying the tape with the Wrong side disposed outwardly.

Other weaves can be used to form the tape 20 in addition to that specified above, the only requirements being that certain of the Woof thread courses be laid on one side of an adjacent series or group of warp threads whereby to provide the loops 24 and 30. The'woven pattern of the -fabric between adjacent loops24 .and between adjacent loops 30 will not interfere with the proper use of the tape 20 and the loops thereof.

Preferably, the Woof thread 200 is formed of sub- Stantially heavier yarn than the warp threads since sections of the Woof thread 200 are utilized to provide the loops 24 and 30 and must possess substantial mechanical strength. More specifically, the Woof thread 200 preferably has a diameter and, therefore a strength several times that of the warp threads 100 and at least twice the diameter thereof. In one preferred form of the tape 20, Vthe Woof thread 200 has a diameter of approximately 1/32" whereas the warp threads 100i have a diameter of approximately 3764". When the tape 20 is woven from threads having these dimensions, the total width of the tape 20 is approximately 1/2 when twenty-four warp threads Iare utilized and there are twenty-four sections of the Woof threads 200 in each inch of the tape 20. Accordingly, if every twentyfourth Woof course is Woven as the Woof course 202, there Will be loops 2'4 at one inch intervals along the tape 20. Similarly, if every twentyefourth woof course is Woven as Woof course 204, then there will be a loop 30 at one inch intervals throughout the length of the tape 20. Only one Woof course has been shown disposed between the woof course forming the loops 24 and A30 but it is to be understood that additional -woof courses may be disposed therebetween, ybut it would not be desirable to have adjacent woof courses forming adjacent loops 24 and 30.

The tape 20' when constructed and woven as described above can be applied readily to material to be gathered or folded. It can be attached thereto, for example, by means of the stitching 32 as has been described above. Either the loops 24 or' the loops 30 will be disposed outermost to receive the draw tape .22 therethrough. It has been found that the draw tape 22 can be readily threaded through either the loops 24 or the loops 30, Whichever are exposed, and when the tape 22 is drawn, the swagging tape 20 and theY attached material are placed in even folds or gathers, yas illustrated in FIG. 2.

The swagging tapeV 20 has been shown applied to a valance for purposes of illustration in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the. drawings. It hasbeen found that the swagging tape 20 can also be utilized to advantage on draperies 4to provide the desired folding thereof. The support rod for the drapery may be inserted through one set of the loops, such as the loops 30 and the `draw tape 22 inserted in the other set of loops and utilized to draw the drapery. Alternatively, the swagging tape 20 may not comprise part of the structure supporting the drapery upon the support rod, the swagging tape 20' being used simply to provide the desired folds of the drapery. Alternatively, the swagging tape 20 itself may be secured in position or by means of the draw tape 22 on an existing window bracket` or on a small pair of screw eyes.

AOther satisfactory usesV of the swagging tape 20 are on dressing table skirts, bed spreads and other places where fullness may be desired. ln fact, in any place where draping or pleats are desired, the swagging tape 20 has been found to be advantageous. The swagging tape 20 can also be used to advantage informing tie-backs on curtains.

For purposes of conciseness, the term drapery material has been utilized herein to designate all types of fabric materials on which the swagging tape 20 may be utilized including Valances, draperies, curtains, dressing table skirts, bed spreads, and the like.

The swagging tape 20 of the present invention has many important advantages in use and particularly when it is desired to clean or Wash and iron the fabric material on which it is mounted. The draw tape 22. can be easily and quickly withdrawn from the loops 24 or 30. The swagging tape 20 lies substantially fiat against the drapery material at all places therealong The loops 24 and 30 are in a sense recessed in the surface of the swagging tape 20 can also be used to advantage in forming tie-backs tend to snag therebeneath. The swagging tape 20 being substantially at will also produce a smooth ironed surface on the reverse side or front side of the drapery material which greatly facilitates ironing of the drapery material and improves substantially the appearance thereof when it is rehung. Rehanging of the drapery material is simple. The draw tape 22 is inserted through the exposed set of the loops 24 or 30 after which it is drawn in the desired manner and the drapery material is ready to be hung or mounted. The ironed drapery material will be smooth even on the surface thereof carrying the swagging tape 20 and the pleats formed in the drapery material will be uniform both as to position and size and can be of any desired size by threading alternate or desired sets of the loops 24 and 30.

It has been seen that there has been provided an improved swagging tape and an improved drapery material have a swagging tape thereon which fulfill all of the objects and advantages of the present invention. Although one preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated in the drawings, it is to be understood .that various changes and modifications can be made therein and it is intended to cover in the appended claim all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed is:

A swagging tape comprising an elongated fabric tape body having longitudinal thread members and transverse thread members interwoven substantially throughout the area thereof, said longitudinal thread members being uniformly disposed in side-by-side position throughout said tape body, said tape body having longitudinally extending opposite edge portions with a multiplicity of said longitudinal thread members disposed Iintermediate said opposite edge portions, certain ones of said transverse thread members being disposed entirely on one side only of said tape body between said opposite edge portions thereof and freely bridging on that side only of said tape body all of said multiplicity of said longitudinal thread members that are intermediate said edge portions whereby said certain ones of said transverse thread members form loops disposed on said one side only of said tape body and substantially transversely thereof, and a fabric draw tape threaded between certain of said loops and said tape body and overlying on said one side only of said tape body substantially all of said multiplicity of said longitudinal thread members that are intermediate said edge portions of said tape body.

References Cited in the tile of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 7,141 Great Britain 1906 

